Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was not a happy man after yesterday’s red card to Myles Lewis-Skelly, as he made clear with his comments after the game.
So, it’s perhaps not too surprising that the Gunners boss also appeared to have a slightly tense moment with referee Michael Oliver in this video from the end of the Wolves game.
“I was a Manchester United fan as a kid, but I knew I had to leave after just one training session!” – which Man Utd flop made this HUGE revelation?
See below as Arteta goes to shake hands with the match officials, before turning back and looking at Oliver for a few seconds, almost as though he was reacting to something that was said by the referee…
I would REALLY like to know what Michael Oliver said to Arteta here ?
That pause and look back, he was evaluating his next move pic.twitter.com/RFGcD0sIkh
— Rory Talks Football (@Rory_Talks_Ball) January 26, 2025
It might be that this was something else altogether, and the video gives a slightly skewed perspective of what was really going on, but it also wouldn’t be surprising if Arteta and Oliver exchanged some tense words.
The Spanish tactician did not hold back with his comments after the game, so perhaps something came up before his post-match press conference as well.
As quoted by the Independent, Arteta told his press conference: “I am absolutely fuming but I leave it with you. I think it is that obvious that we don’t need any comment today and hopefully the right thing will happen.”
Arteta has had more than his fair share of outbursts at referees in recent times, having landed himself in trouble last season when he slammed the decision to allow Newcastle United’s winning goal against his side at St James’ Park.
This season there have also been some slightly bizarre decisions that have gone against Arsenal, with Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard receiving red cards for kicking the ball away.
Whilst technically within the rules of the game, it’s not something we’ve seen that often even though players do it all the time, so Arteta can perhaps feel some justification in feeling hard done by.
